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jprussellThis offering is now closed for new questions, but if you have something pressing before I offer another, reach out by DM here on dreamwidth or through my email (linked at my webstead: https://jpowellrussell.com). Those of you who have already asked and not yet gotten an answer, I'm on it and will have those shared in the next couple of days. Otherwise, see you next time!
It's been a while since I've done this, so I figured I'd offer to do a divination reading on whatever questions you think I might be able to help with from now (Sunday, December 22nd) through the end of the year. Just post your question here or send me a dreamwidth message or an email if it's private. Just one question per person, please, but follow-ups should be fine, unless I get way more folks asking than I expect.
A few things on how I tend to approach this, though we can make adjustments on a case-by-case basis, if needed:
1) The two divination systems I'm comfortable with are the Runes and the Ogham. If you have a preference, let me know, but generally speaking, I prefer the Ogham for more magical/spiritual/psychological questions (unless they're specifically Heathen), and the Runes for most practical stuff or anything directly involving the Germanic Gods and Their worship. Not that they can't both answer a full range of questions, I just tend to find them easier to interpret that way in those situations.
2) For most questions, I find some variation of a three card/stave spread in the shape of (roughly) "Past/Present/Future" or "Situation/Action/Outcome" to be most helpful. Sometimes specific questions might call for something a bit different, but when in doubt, that's what I'll go with.
3) As a slight addition to the above, when cards or Runestaves draw attention to themselves in ways I didn't intend (popping out of the deck while shuffling, two cards drawn when I meant to get one, one of the lots bouncing out of the tray I drop them in, that kind of thing), I tend to interpret that as "you need this extra information, pay attention."
4) I'll do my best to convey both the specific cards/staves I got in what positions, and what their "generic" meanings are (at least to me), but then also to synthesize everything into a whole picture. This last bit is largely intuitive, and often is more precise at the risk of being less accurate (example of what I mean: "it will rain tomorrow" is less precise than "it will rain between noon and 1:00 pm tomorrow," but if it rains at 5:00 pm, the former was more accurate because it was less precise), which is why I give the choppier/less synthesized pieces as well as how I think they fit together.
5) I'll be doing family stuff for the holidays, including a bit of travel, so please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond with an estimate on when I'll answer your question. I anticipate being able to do the reading for most within 24-48 hours of posting, but again, if way more folks take me up on this than I expect, that might change.
At any rate, ask away, and a blessed (late) Solstice, merry (early) Christmas, and happy (early) New Year!
Jeff
It's been a while since I've done this, so I figured I'd offer to do a divination reading on whatever questions you think I might be able to help with from now (Sunday, December 22nd) through the end of the year. Just post your question here or send me a dreamwidth message or an email if it's private. Just one question per person, please, but follow-ups should be fine, unless I get way more folks asking than I expect.
A few things on how I tend to approach this, though we can make adjustments on a case-by-case basis, if needed:
1) The two divination systems I'm comfortable with are the Runes and the Ogham. If you have a preference, let me know, but generally speaking, I prefer the Ogham for more magical/spiritual/psychological questions (unless they're specifically Heathen), and the Runes for most practical stuff or anything directly involving the Germanic Gods and Their worship. Not that they can't both answer a full range of questions, I just tend to find them easier to interpret that way in those situations.
2) For most questions, I find some variation of a three card/stave spread in the shape of (roughly) "Past/Present/Future" or "Situation/Action/Outcome" to be most helpful. Sometimes specific questions might call for something a bit different, but when in doubt, that's what I'll go with.
3) As a slight addition to the above, when cards or Runestaves draw attention to themselves in ways I didn't intend (popping out of the deck while shuffling, two cards drawn when I meant to get one, one of the lots bouncing out of the tray I drop them in, that kind of thing), I tend to interpret that as "you need this extra information, pay attention."
4) I'll do my best to convey both the specific cards/staves I got in what positions, and what their "generic" meanings are (at least to me), but then also to synthesize everything into a whole picture. This last bit is largely intuitive, and often is more precise at the risk of being less accurate (example of what I mean: "it will rain tomorrow" is less precise than "it will rain between noon and 1:00 pm tomorrow," but if it rains at 5:00 pm, the former was more accurate because it was less precise), which is why I give the choppier/less synthesized pieces as well as how I think they fit together.
5) I'll be doing family stuff for the holidays, including a bit of travel, so please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond with an estimate on when I'll answer your question. I anticipate being able to do the reading for most within 24-48 hours of posting, but again, if way more folks take me up on this than I expect, that might change.
At any rate, ask away, and a blessed (late) Solstice, merry (early) Christmas, and happy (early) New Year!
Jeff
Thanks & yes please
Date: 2024-12-23 11:59 am (UTC)It's a bit corny, but I'd love a divination on my prospects for love / intimate relationship in the near future... Would it help if I framed it as a more specific question (which I'm phaving trouble doing), or will that general theme do?
Thanks again, BJL
Re: Thanks & yes please
Date: 2024-12-23 04:26 pm (UTC)Corny or not, it's obviously an important topic to most folks, so I certainly don't fault you for asking. In general, yes, the more specific we can get on the question, the better. Let me propose the following:
"What does BJL most need to understand about seeking love in an intimate relationship over the next 2-3 months?" For the answer, I'll draw "Setting," which is what's going on in your life and around you, "Work" which is whatever you might do to try to find love in this period, and "Outcome(s)," which would be what is most likely to come about if you do, in fact, actively seek love in the time period. Unless you have a preference either way, I'll likely ask the Runes about this.
Let me know if that works, and I'll go ahead, or if you have any tweaks or changes you'd like to make.
Thanks,
Jeff
Re: Thanks & yes please
Date: 2024-12-23 07:44 pm (UTC)Re: Thanks & yes please
Date: 2025-01-02 05:30 am (UTC)Asking - "What does BJL most need to understand about seeking love in an intimate relationship over the next 2-3 months?"
Draw
Setting: Inguz
Work: Isa
Outcome(s): Ehwaz (Murky)
Other (Slipped Out While Picking Up Runestaves): Nauthiz
My Take on It
Alrighty, to do this reading, I opened a sacred space, called upon the Wyrds (Norns) and concentrated on your question while shaking the Runestaves vigorously. I then dropped them in a dice tray, said a prayer to the Gods who help me with divination, and then drew three staves without looking, using the spread "Setting (context), Work (doing the thing you're considering), and Outcome(s) (whatever is most likely to come about if you do what you're thinking about). If I drew the stave right side up, it is "bright," and if I drew it face down it is "murky," which is roughly equivalent to drawing a card reversed in systems like Tarot. In the system of interpretation I use, "murky" means either that the forces represented by the Rune are manifesting in an unhelpful or harmful way, or else that they are somehow "blocked" - not manifesting fully or at all.
To get to the actual reading, man, the first three of this round, including yours, are not exactly cheery, and for that I'm sorry. I'd much rather be giving good news, but I hope that good, clear readings will be more helpful overall. For "Setting," what is going on around you or within you relevant to this question, we have Inguz, which means "Ing (the God also known as Frey)," which most often stands for the kind of strength or fertility found in a seed - waiting, possibly developing, but not yet ready to spring forth. For "Work," what you ought to do toward your goal in this time period, Isa came up, which means "Ice." If you read the answer to Princess Cutekitten's question, you might have seen some other sides of this Rune, but here, I think the "ego" side of It have the most weight (being the "I" Rune, it at times indicates the self, especially the conscious, self-aware part of the self). For "Outcomes," we got Ehwaz (Murky), which means "Horse" and stands for the kind of close partnership found between a horse and rider, and is often linked with romantic partnerships and marriage - the fact that it came up murky suggests to me that you will not be successful in finding a romantic partner in the next 2-3 months (again, very sorry to bear that news). Interestingly, we got an unexpected fourth Rune in this reading - as I was picking up the lots after casting and drawing them, the Nauthiz ("Need") stave popped out of my hand, which I have learned to take as a kind of overall commentary on the reading. Nauthiz speaks to a lack, often keenly, or evenly cruelly felt, that may act as motivation and source of strength if appropriately responded to.
If we put all of this together, though it is not so cheerful for the specific question, I think there is reason to hope in the longer run. This seems to say to me that you have been and are developing just what you need for a romantic relationship, that the work along those lines for the next 2-3 months will likely be turned toward yourself, but that they will not lead to the result you're looking for in that time period (going back to Ing, I'd stress patience). The "bonus" Rune of Nauthiz might simply point to the lack of love you are feeling, and how it is driving you to better yourself, or it might say that something crucial is missing in this time period that will be needed when the time is right. My last thought is that Ehwaz (Murky) might also be a warning - in your desire to find love, you might convince yourself that someone unsuitable will work. The other Runes in the reading suggest you should keep on cultivating yourself and heed your own needs and strength, rather than being pulled in by the allure of leaning on the wrong person.
Please let me know if you have any follow up questions, and if you're willing, I'd very much appreciate hearing whether this struck a chord or felt off, and if so, in what ways.
Cheers,
Jeff
Re: Thanks & yes please
Date: 2025-01-02 05:50 pm (UTC)Many thanks for this! Yes, it does resonate... And I'm actually very glad you took a little while to write this up, as I don't think I would have coped so well with the result a few days ago (I had a sort of mental reset over the new year / new moon that's made me feel a lot calmer about the situation). That said, there's still tears as I write this.
So some thoughts on the reading - hopefully you'll find them useful...
Nauthiz "a lack, often keenly, or evenly cruelly felt" - yep, this is exactly how it feels, and has been for the last year or so. It has been oddly intense; I've had other periods of my life where I've been single and lonely but it's never had this quality of intensity before and I've often wondered what's behind it... I still don't know of course...
Inguz "the kind of strength or fertility found in a seed" - interesting. Immediately made me think of a quote that has been helping me in the last little while:
"For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, it's insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction" Cynthia Occelli.
It may not be strictly along the lines of what the Rune is portraying, but thought you might be interested that that's where my mind went first.
Isa - I did look at Princess Cutekitten's reading, and resonated with the "order" interpretation on a quite practical level. My biggest social barrier is a chaotic living space which gives me anxiety just thinking about having someone come to visit... obviously not a great situation for starting a relationship! So yep, work on that is in order...
Ehwaz (Murky), well I can't fault your interpretation there, disappointing as it is. I assume it is a simple not-going-to-happen message, but I will also keep your thought about the possibility of a warning in mind. I also wondered if it might be about the specific person I've been keen on for a long time now (I was wavering as to whether to get the divination about the complex situation with that person or go more general... still not sure I made the right call).
And your overall interpretation makes sense for me. I shall keep working on myself and my chaos and clutter (& cope with the intense feelings of lack)!
Thanks again, BJL
Re: Thanks & yes please
Date: 2025-01-06 11:14 pm (UTC)I'm glad the timing worked out, but sorry to hear that it was difficult to read, even if useful.
Thank you very much also for your thoughts on the reading. The seed quote is especially fascinating and seem synchronicitous. As for whether you made the right call on which divination to ask for, let's both hope that something steered you this way for good reason, but if I offer more divinations soon, feel free to ask again! I might also suggest from afar that reflecting or journaling on what this reading has to say about that situation might be fruitful.
Glad it makes sense, and good luck! Loneliness is rough, but this reading suggests there are some opportunities in it, however bitter they might be in the moment (which I'm sure is plenty bitter!)
Jeff